Pilots Blog

Time for the administrators to embrace Indian Business Aviation?

As operators, owners, business aviation associations, airports, lawyers, infrastructure providers, financiers, MRO specialists and OEMs gathered in Delhi from 24-26 February for IBAE, the first dedicated Indian Business Aviation Expo, the focus was firmly directed at Prasant Sukul, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, as he was asked to support the interests of business aviation in India. Although cautious, the joint secretary was sympathetic to the needs of the industry and said he would be supportive to the BAAI's plea for a level playing field for business aviation and would try and represent the concerns of those gathered for the event.

The event included much lively debate and the lack of representation from the executive sector was a constant source of irritation to those who had travelled to Delhi. Nevertheless, there was much to ponder as attendees heard from a variety of experts covering operational issues, supply and purchase of aircraft, finance and legal issues involved with aircaft acquisition, the importance of being first to the customer, opportunities for air taxi models, operating models, treatment of HNWI, airport planning and infrastructure, MRO issues, taxation and hinderance to entering the market, OEM concerns, opportunities for helicopter and floatplane operators and how the industry needed to move forward. IBAE 2011 will take place 23-25 February, 2011 and the IBAE 2010 event proceedings are available for download from the link:  http://www.miuevents.com/archive/ibae-10 or email: mb@miuevents.com